Matthew 10

The Twelve Apostles

1 And calling His twelve disciples to Him, Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits, so that they could drive them out and heal every disease and sickness. ¹

2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;

3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;

4 Simon the Zealot, ^[a] and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. ^[b]

The Ministry of the Twelve

5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go onto the road of the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. ²

6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.

7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’

8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, ^[c] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

9 Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts.

10 Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker is worthy of his provisions.

11 Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy there and stay at his house ^[d] until you move on.

12 As you enter the home, greet its occupants. ^[e]

13 If the home is worthy, let your peace rest on it, but if it is not, let your peace return to you.

14 And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.

15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

Sheep among Wolves

16 Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. ³

17 But beware of men, for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues.

18 On My account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.

19 But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say.

20 For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.

22 You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.

23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24 A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.

25 It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, ^[f] how much more the members of his household!

Fear God Alone

26 So do not be afraid of them. For there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. ⁴

27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops.

28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. ^[g]

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? ^[h] Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31 So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Confessing Christ

32 Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven. ⁵

33 But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.

Not Peace but a Sword

34 Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. ⁶

35 For I have come to turn

36 A man’s enemies will be the members

37 Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;

38 and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.

39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

The Reward of Service

40 He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the One who sent Me. ⁷

41 Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.

42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”

Matthew 10 Commentary

Chapter 10

The apostles called. (1-4) The apostles instructed and sent forth. (5-15) Directions to the apostles. (16-42)

Verses 1-4 The word "apostle" signifies messenger; they were Christ's messengers, sent forth to proclaim his kingdom. Christ gave them power to heal all manner of sickness. In the grace of the gospel there is a slave for every sore, a remedy for every malady. There is no spiritual disease, but there is power in Christ for the cure of it. There names are recorded, and it is their honour; yet they had more reason to rejoice that their names were written in heaven, while the high and mighty names of the great ones of the earth are buried in the dust.

Verses 5-15 The Gentiles must not have the gospel brought them, till the Jews have refused it. This restraint on the apostles was only in their first mission. Wherever they went they must proclaim, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. They preached, to establish the faith; the kingdom, to animate the hope; of heaven, to inspire the love of heavenly things, and the contempt of earthly; which is at hand, that men may prepare for it without delay. Christ gave power to work miracles for the confirming of their doctrine. This is not necessary now that the kingdom of God is come. It showed that the intent of the doctrine they preached, was to heal sick souls, and to raise those that were dead in sin. In proclaiming the gospel of free grace for the healing and saving of men's souls, we must above all avoid the appearance of the spirit of an hireling. They are directed what to do in strange towns and cities. The servant of Christ is the ambassador of peace to whatever place he is sent. His message is even to the vilest sinners, yet it behoves him to find out the best persons in every place. It becomes us to pray heartily for all, and to conduct ourselves courteously to all. They are directed how to act as to those that refused them. The whole counsel of God must be declared, and those who will not attend to the gracious message, must be shown that their state is dangerous. This should be seriously laid to heart by all that hear the gospel, lest their privileges only serve to increase their condemnation.

Verses 16-42 Our Lord warned his disciples to prepare for persecution. They were to avoid all things which gave advantage to their enemies, all meddling with worldly or political concerns, all appearance of evil or selfishness, and all underhand measures. Christ foretold troubles, not only that the troubles might not be a surprise, but that they might confirm their faith. He tells them what they should suffer, and from whom. Thus Christ has dealt fairly and faithfully with us, in telling us the worst we can meet with in his service; and he would have us deal so with ourselves, in sitting down and counting the cost. Persecutors are worse than beasts, in that they prey upon those of their own kind. The strongest bonds of love and duty, have often been broken through from enmity against Christ. Sufferings from friends and relations are very grievous; nothing cuts more. It appears plainly, that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution; and we must expect to enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations. With these predictions of trouble, are counsels and comforts for a time of trial. The disciples of Christ are hated and persecuted as serpents, and their ruin is sought, and they need the serpent's wisdom. Be ye harmless as doves. Not only, do nobody any hurt, but bear nobody any ill-will. Prudent care there must be, but not an anxious, perplexing thought; let this care be cast upon God. The disciples of Christ must think more how to do well, than how to speak well. In case of great peril, the disciples of Christ may go out of the way of danger, though they must not go out of the way of duty. No sinful, unlawful means may be used to escape; for then it is not a door of God's opening. The fear of man brings a snare, a perplexing snare, that disturbs our peace; an entangling snare, by which we are drawn into sin; and, therefore, it must be striven and prayed against. Tribulation, distress, and persecution cannot take away God's love to them, or theirs to him. Fear Him, who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. They must deliver their message publicly, for all are deeply concerned in the doctrine of the gospel. The whole counsel of God must be made known, ( Acts 20:27 ) . Christ shows them why they should be of good cheer. Their sufferings witnessed against those who oppose his gospel. When God calls us to speak for him, we may depend on him to teach us what to say. A believing prospect of the end of our troubles, will be of great use to support us under them. They may be borne to the end, because the sufferers shall be borne up under them. The strength shall be according to the day. And it is great encouragement to those who are doing Christ's work, that it is a work which shall certainly be done. See how the care of Providence extends to all creatures, even to the sparrows. This should silence all the fears of God's people; Ye are of more value than many sparrows. And the very hairs of your head are all numbered. This denotes the account God takes and keeps of his people. It is our duty, not only to believe in Christ, but to profess that faith, in suffering for him, when we are called to it, as well as in serving him. That denial of Christ only is here meant which is persisted in, and that confession only can have the blessed recompence here promised, which is the real and constant language of faith and love. Religion is worth every thing; all who believe the truth of it, will come up to the price, and make every thing else yield to it. Christ will lead us through sufferings, to glory with him. Those are best prepared for the life to come, that sit most loose to this present life. Though the kindness done to Christ's disciples be ever so small, yet if there be occasion for it, and ability to do no more, it shall be accepted. Christ does not say that they deserve a reward; for we cannot merit any thing from the hand of God; but they shall receive a reward from the free gift of God. Let us boldly confess Christ, and show love to him in all things.

Cross References

• 1. (Mark 3:13–19; Luke 6:12–16)
• 2. (Mark 6:7–13; Luke 9:1–6)
• 3. (2 Timothy 1:3–12)
• 4. (Luke 12:4–7)
• 5. (Luke 12:8–12)
• 6. (Micah 7:1–6; Luke 12:49–53)
• 7. (2 Kings 4:8–17)

Footnotes

• [a]. Greek Simon the Cananean
• [b]. Literally the one also having betrayed Him
• [c]. A leper was one afflicted with a skin disease. See Leviticus 13.
• [d]. Literally stay there
• [e]. Literally greet it
• [f]. WH Beezeboul; Vulgate Beelzebub
• [g]. Greek Gehenna
• [h]. Greek an assarion; that is, a Roman copper coin worth about 1/16 of a denarius